Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-07
THE EASTERN SHORE.
THE NORMAL INSTITUTE VISITING
THE sEA-BEAcH.
Celebrating the Fourth-shark. Fishing
Stricken with Paralysis,
&c, &c.
Correspondence Of the Richmond pi.p.sot.I

WAcHAPREAGUR, July 8, 1887.
The beginning Of the week has
brought many new arrivals to this pref
ty seaside town of old Accomack. The
newcomers are nearly all public-school
teachers, who come to attend the SUM-
mer normal institute now holding its
session here. Yesterday being the
Fourth Of July the lectures of the in
stitute were suspended in the afternoon
TO enable the teachers to visit the beach
and enjoy a sight Of, old Ocean,
which presented q spectacle OF
awful grandeur as it rolled
up in huge pillows on the hard sand
beach. AS far as the eye could reach
up and down the coast could be seen
an unbroken line of the white-crested
breakers. Some OF the visitors took a
plunge in the surf, while others strolled
along the beach gazing ON the beauties
Of the sea and picking up shells on the
shore. To not few it was the first
sight they had ever had of the ocean.
As night came on they got in their
boats, and sailing away before a brisk
easterly breeze returned to Wacha-
prague in time to attend the
celebration OF the glorious Fourth,
the first ever held in the town.
These exercises took place in the large
Union church, which was filed to its
utmost capacity. The exercises began
by singing "1he Star-Spangled Ban
nor" which was rendered with great
spirit. Then followed an historical adj
dress by Frank p. Brent, Esq, on the
Life and Public Services OF Thomas
Jefferson" The address was mainly
historical and occupied more than an
hour in its delivery, Mr.. n. j. w. LIE
Cato, formerly of Accomack, followed
in short address, in which he
traced the influence Of the teach
ings Of Alexander Hamilton on
the institutions of the country.
The exercises OF the evening closed
with singing "Tbe Red, White, and
Blue," in which the great concourse
joined with spirit and enthusiasm.
There were also celebrations at
Greenbackville, in the extreme north
eastern part of the county, and at
Cape Charles City, in Northampton.
State Senator Blackstone spoke at the
former place ana Mr.. James G. Weaver,
editor of the Onancock Eastern Vir-
1inidn, at the latter.
Shark fishing continuesto be the favo-
rite sport of many Of the teachers. Pro-
fessor Lanford. of New York, one Ofthe
conductors of the institute, is the most
enthusiastic shark-fsher now here. On
Saturday quite large one was caught
in Wachapreague inlet, and yesterday
another was caught about mile below
the town. In future letter may tell
the readers of the Dispatch how these
dangerous sea animals are caught.
There are many more well-authenti-
Gated shark stories floating around here
that have never yet appeared III print.
We are looking for DR.. Buchanan
here about the end of the week. The
teachers here Gre enthusiastic in their
work and delighted with Wachapreague.
The thermometer here rarely ever gets
above 90, even in midsummer, while
the nights are always cool enough to
require several blankets for comforta-
bic sleeping.
Mr.. Peter 7. East, an old and
prominent citizen of AccOmack, living
near Onancock, was stricken with
paralysis several days ago, and is not
expected TO recover. He was the
pioneer in the cultivation of sweet
Iotatoes on the Eastern Shore, and
has long been known as "the potato
king" of this section.
Farmers complain that the price of
Irish potatoes Is now too low to pay
for cultivation. EaIly trucks, 1t would
seem, are the only products that our
people can now raise with profit.
VISITOR.